Child credited with saving lives of family members
Kyleigh Brianne Ash was sitting in the backseat of her mother’s van and could tell something was wrong.
Her mother, Jennifer Janickie, began having a seizure while behind the wheel while driving 13-year-old Kyleigh to class at H.H. Pool Middle School in North Stafford. In the backseats were Kyleigh, her infant sister and toddler brother.
In an instant, Kyleigh jumped out of her seat, across her brother and sister, and then into the lap of her mother. Kyleigh then took control of the van traveling on Garrisonville Road, applied the brakes, and steered the van to a stop near the intersection of Center Street.
Kyleigh, her brother and sister, escaped unscathed, and their grandmother was called to come pick up the children from the scene. Janickie was taken to a local hospital where several tests were run, but doctors were unable to determine why she had the seizure, her first ever, she added.
A short time later, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office presented Kyleigh with a commendation for her actions.
“Had Kyleigh not taken control of the vehicle it is very likely that the van would have passed into oncoming traffic and resulted in serious, if not threatening injury to the occupants of the vehicle,” said sheriff’s spokesman Bill Kennedy.
Sheriff Charles E. Jett presented the 13-year-old with an award for her bravery at the county’s public safety center on Courthouse Road.
“It’s just mind blowing,” said Janickie. “I didn’t think she would know what to do for something like that. A lot of people wouldn’t know what to do if something like that happened, and I’m very thankful for what she did.”
So thankful, Kyleigh’s mom took her to Maggie Moos, her favorite ice cream shop, to celebrate.
